Lubbock Shows Air Travelers its Knight Life

Lubbock Shows Air Travelers its Knight Life

Two new airport displays focus on the importance of chess in Lubbock.
Written by Cory Chandler

In the past year, Lubbock and Texas Tech University have embraced chess like no other community in the U.S.

The Texas Tech Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE), Visit Lubbock and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to introduce two new displays at the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, showing visitors why the Hub City has the best “Knight” life in Texas.

Two large-scale chess sets located on the east and west wings of the terminal, now provide entertainment for travelers while a plaque, posters and other information promote SPICE and chess activities in Lubbock.

Lubbock and Texas Tech were named co-city and co-university of the year, respectively, by the U.S. Chess Federation.

“Susan Polgar and the SPICE program have opened the door to a world that not only enhances the university’s profile, but has increased Lubbock’s exposure to international tourists,” said Marcy Jarrett, executive director of Visit Lubbock.

SPICE hosts a number of invitational and open tournaments throughout the year for everyone from enthusiasts to international champions.

The 2008 SPICE Cup (a FIDE category 15 event) was the highest rated tournament of its kind ever held on U.S. soil and featured players from countries including Iceland, India, Poland, Germany and Russia; the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls brought female chess players from nearly every U.S. state to Lubbock for competition.

Source: TTU

SPICE stands for Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence at Texas Tech University (www.SPICE.ttu.edu)

The Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) is the model for the highest standard in chess education. Directed by Susan Polgar, the institute is poised to become the world’s premier center for chess research, education, development and outreach.

Through SPICE, Texas Tech has focused the resources of a major university and Big 12 Conference member on providing scholarships for players, conducting research into various aspects of the game, championing scholastic, college and women’s chess and housing an outreach program bringing chess to enthusiasts of all ages.

The SPICE Mission

· To promote chess as a vehicle for enriching education
· To support and promote competitive chess at college level
· To recruit outstanding undergraduate and graduate students
· To bring national and international recognition to TTU and TTUHSC
· To be the leader in promoting women's chess
· To serve as the global center for chess research, education and outreach

Ribbon Cutting SPICE event at LBB

DATE: Oct. 20, 2008

WHAT: Ribbon cutting of new giant chess sets and terminal displays

WHEN: 2 p.m. Monday (Oct. 20)

WHERE: Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport

In the past year, Lubbock and Texas Tech have embraced chess like perhaps no other community in the U.S.

The Texas Tech University Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE), Lubbock Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony today to introduce two new giant chess sets and displays that will show visitors why Lubbock has the best “Knight” life in America.

Two large-scale chess sets – one each for the east and west wings of the terminal – will provide entertainment for travelers while a plaque, posters and other information will discuss SPICE. Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport is the first airport to embrace chess at such level and SPICE is the first chess institute of its kind in the world.

Lubbock and Texas Tech were named co-city and co-university of the year, respectively, by the U.S. Chess Federation.

Earlier, Texas Tech University and SPICE organized and hosted the prestigious 2nd annual SPICE Cup, a FIDE category 15 event, the highest rated 10-player International round robin tournament in U.S. history.

SPICE Cup success

2008 Spice Cup Ends in Four-way Tie for First Place
The 2008 Spice Cup International Invitational Tournament culminated on Sunday (Sept. 28) with a four-way tie for first place.
Written by Jessica Benham

The 2008 Spice Cup International Invitational Tournament culminated on Sunday (Sept. 28) with a four-way tie for first place.

Harikrishna Pentala of India, Alexander Onischuk and Varuzhan Akobian, both of the United States, and Leonid Kritz of Germany tied for first place with 5.5 points each.

Paul Truong, director of marketing at the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE), said the focus of the chess world was on Texas Tech during the Spice Cup.

“We are very fortunate to have 10 incredible players competing and the ending was full of drama,” he said. “Going into the final round, we had six of the 10 players in contention to win this prestigious title. We had no idea who would win this world-class event until the final game was completed.”

Texas Tech’s International Master (IM) Gergely Antal and Grandmaster (GM) Alejandro Ramirez of the University of Texas at Dallas were named co-champions of the Spice Cup Open.

Antal found out just before the Spice Cup Open that his father had passed away in Hungary.

“We are so proud of Gergely Antal,” Truong said. “He still competed to represent Texas Tech and gave everything he had to bring the title to our university in spite of being only the third seed in the tournament.”

SPICE is trying to raise money for Antal’s ticket home to attend the funeral of his father. Donations can be made to the Susan Polgar Foundation on behalf of Gergely Antal. For more information call (806) 742-7742.

Antal’s achievement of co-champion in the Spice Cup Open is the biggest title in the history of the Knight Raiders.

“He is a true champion and leader of the Knight Raiders,” Truong said. “Antal will be helping the Knight Raiders shoot for the first national title next year.”

GM Sabina Foisor of Romania won the Texas Women’s Championship, and IM Bayaraa Zorigt of the University of Texas at Dallas placed second - earning the title of the highest-finishing Texan.

Truong said both Kritz and Foisor are planning to attend Texas Tech next fall.

Source: TTU